Electrical receptacle



g- 4, T. J. MADIGAN 1,317,441

ELECTRICAL REGEPTACLE Filed Dec. 12, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet i Aug, 4,v 1931. T. J. MADIGAN ELECTRICAL RECEPTACLE Filed Dec. 12, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I I v?//// 0 & WV/d 7/ 1 A reamed Aug. 4, 1931 PATENT; OFFICE mom J. mm, or nnoonnr. mlw roan ELECTRICAL BEOEPTAGLE Application fled December 18, 1838. Serial No. 325,593.

The invention relates to improvements in Fig. 4 is a similar view on the line 4-4 of electrical receptacles.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of electrical receptacles and to provide a simple, practical and eflicient duplex receptacle-of strong, durable and comparatively inexpensive construction adapted to be readily. secured to an ordinary outlet box and equipped with means for posi- I m t-ively gripping and securely clamping a pluralit of branch conductors and of firmly holdm the same without the necessity of solderin and splicing the Wires and without the liability of the wires becoming accidentally loose or disconnected from the receptacle through vibration.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electrical receptacle of this character adapted in clamping or gripping the branch go bared ends of the branch conductors to crimp or bend the same, whereby the said terminals of the branch wires will be securely locked in the receptacle, and efiectually prevented from becoming disconnected therefrom through as tensile strain on the conductor wires.

It is also an object of the invention to provide means for holding the insulated portions of the branch wires in spaced relation, and to prevent laterallmovementof suchv insulatedportions on the receptacle, whereby wearing of the insulation is prevented. v

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel arrangement of the parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various chan es in the form, proportion and minor detai s of construction, within the sc'ope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawin Fi rel is a out elevation of a duplex electrical receptacle constructed in'accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar view,

of the body being removed.

Fig. 3 is a central transverse sectional view the cover plate Fig. 2. y Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken lon 'tudinally of the bus bars on the line 55 of ig, 4. Flg. 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the channel bus bars. I

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of one of the adjustable clamping bars.

In the accompanying drawings in which is illustrated the referred'embodiment of the invention, the uplex electrical rece tacle which is adpted to be installed in an or inary outlet box comprises in its construction abody portion 1 of suitable insulating material provided at opposite sides with longitudinal recesses 2 having terminal extensions 3 of substantially rectangular form to provide pockets for spring contacts 4 of bus bars 5. The body 1 is provided at the longitudinal recesses, with a supporting ledge 6 extending between the pockets 3 at each side of the body and adapted to receive the bus bar 5 which is retained in the side recesses 2 by a cover plate 7 secured to the body by a central bolt 8 or other suitable fastening device. The cover plate 7 which is-preferably provided with terminal enlargements has apertures 9 arranged in pairs at the said enlargements and communicating with the ockets 3 of the body and adapted to permit ife blades of plugs to be introduced into the receptacle and engaged with the spring contacts 4.

The bus bars each consist of a channel baror member constructed of suitable conducting metal and having spaced side flanges p rovided at intervals with openin s 10 forming bearings or seats for the bare terminals 11 of branch conductors 12.

The branch wires are inserted in the openings 10 from the back of the receptacle which is provided at the inner side walls of the recesses 2 with spaced grooves 13 adapted to form seats for the insulation of the branch wires 12 to space the branch wires from one another and also to prevent rubbing of the insulation and wear of the same through contact with the body .1. The cover plate is provided at its inner face opposite the openings 10 with enlarged sockets 14 to receive the ends 1 11 of the branch conductors and permit the branch wires to be extended entirely across the channel bus bars and project a suflicient distance beyond the same so that there will be no liability of the branch wires becoming disengaged from the opposite seats of the bus bar when grip d by a clamping bar 15. The clampmg r '15 which is provided at its inner side with grooves 16 to receive the wires is approximately wed e-shaped in cross section at its innersside to w or crimp the bared terminals of the wires between the side flanges of the bus bars, whereby theterminals 11 of the branch conductors, will be securely gri ped and firmly locked in the seats of the bus at and efiectually prevented from becoming accidentally disconnected therefrom through vibration .or'tensile strain on the conductor While the clamping "bar is shown with the-substantially wedgeshaped wire engaging portion it will be clear Q that the coacting portions oft ebus bars and screws 17 i'ercin .bar and t readed 7 between the clamping automatically moving the clamping bar outwardly when the screws item a j "release the wires. Whenthe wires are re the clamping bar may be of various construc- ,3 tions to secure a firm gnpp clamping ofa plurality of branch wires The clamping'barfof each busgbar is connected with the latter by terminal adjusting the ends of- 'the clamping into the bus bar at 18 coiled springs 19 beingpreferably interpose ustedto leased b the clamping bar they may be readily rembved from or introduced into the openings of the bus bars.

The spring contacts 4" which are located at the ends 0 the bus bars and which extend inwardly therefrom are preferably constructed of a single piece of metal, but they ma be of any other desired construction, as wi be readilty1 understood. The body is provided wi a lug band 19' of the ordinary construction for attaching the receptacle to an outlet box.

The adjustable clamping bars areaccessible from the sides 'of the receptacle, and the branch conductors may be conveniently introduced at the back of the receptacle.

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical receptacle including a body of insulating material, a bus bar mounted on the body and provided with means for receiving the terminals of a plurality of branch conductors, and a clamping bar carned by the bus bar arranged within and cooperating therewith to simultaneously grip a plurality of the branch conductors.

-2.Anelectrical receptacle comprising a body of insulating material, bus bars mounted on the body and provided with spaced seats. arranged in pairs and adapted to receive conducting wires at spaced ints there on, and clampmg bars menu on the bus ar andthe bus bar for with openings forming spaced seats for the terminals of branch conductors, and a clamp: ing bar relatively adjustable with respect to the bus bar and operating between the .sides thereof togrip and crimp the branch conductors between the said spaced seats.

5. An electrical receptacle including a body of insulatin material, provided with side recesses, bus are mounted on the body in the said recesses and haviin spaced sides provided with openin "sai body being also provided in the wal s 'of the side recesses adjacent the openings with grooves to receive the insulation of branch conductors,

and relatively ad'ustable clamping bars opcrating between t e sides of the bus bars for simultaneously gripping a plurality of branch conductors.

6. An electrical aterial, provided with side recesses, bus are mounted on the body in thesaid recesses and havin spaced sides provided with openings, body being also provided in the walls of the side recesses adjacent the openings with to receive the insulation of branc ductors, a cover plate secured to the body OOVBS and provided with openings located opposite the openings of the bus bars to receive the ends of the branch conductors, and relatively adjustable clamping bars operatin between the sides of the bus bars for sim taneously gripping a plurality of branch conductors.

7. 'An electrical receptacle including a body of insulating material, a bus bar provided with means for receiving a plurality of branch conductors, a clamping bar arranged to grip the branch conductors simultaneously, means for effecting a'relative adjustment of the bus bar and the clamping bar, and yieldable means for efi'ectinga separation of the bus bar and clampingbar when the adjusting means is released.

8. An .electrical receptacle including a body of insulating material, a bus bar provided with means for receiving a plurality of branch conductors, a clamping bar arranged to grip the branch conductors simultaneous- 1y, ad usting screws connecting the bus bar and the clam in bar, and springs disposed on the screw 151d interposed between the bus bar and the clamping bar for automatically separating the same when the adjusting screws are loosened.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 111 hand.

y THOMAS J. MADIGAN. 

